"So, What Do You Do?" - Unraveling Project Management

This article is especially dedicated to the friends and family members who frequently ask me this question.

This past weekend, I had the joy of reuniting with my college classmates to celebrate 25 years since our graduation in Architecture and Urban Planning from EESC-USP. It was a moment filled with happiness, warm hugs, laughter, and conversations that inevitably revolved around personal and professional updates. Although we've kept up with each other's lives through means like social media, these in-person gatherings offer valuable opportunities to dive deeper into our individual journeys and accomplishments.

During several conversations, I noticed curiosity about my path in project management. Despite the enthusiasm over the updates I regularly share — and the jokes about all the acronyms tied to my professional certifications — there were still lingering questions about what this field actually involves. Interestingly, I encounter the same scenario in my family circle. One of my aunts, who always supports my accomplishments, once said she's very proud of what I do, even though she doesn't exactly understand what it is.

It may seem trivial to those already immersed in this world. However, there's still ample room to raise awareness among companies, professionals, and individuals about the benefits of practicing project management. This includes its professional application and the development of skills that can be used to tackle various personal and organizational challenges. I firmly advocate that project management should be part of the required curriculum in all undergraduate programs — and why not also in primary and secondary education?

In fields such as Engineering and Architecture, students work on projects from the early years of their studies. At EESC-USP, we received solid training in this area, focusing on developing architectural proposals (or in Engineering, structural, hydraulic, and electrical projects, among others). Considering the definition of a project as a "temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result" (1), architectural proposals can indeed be considered projects. However, when we talk about a new building, the architectural design is only one of the deliverables within a larger project — whose ultimate goal is to deliver the building within defined parameters of schedule, budget, quality, and scope, meeting the needs and expectations of the end-users (such as the future residents). The discussion may go far beyond the primary goals, extending to community, social, and environmental impacts.

During our memorable class reunion, I talked with friends who pursued academic careers, and we discussed the importance of having students practice 30-second pitches to present their project proposals — a concise and effective way of "selling" their ideas. Along those lines, here is my pitch for the project management profession:

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Projects are structured, time-bound transformation initiatives designed to generate results and achieve specific goals. Their outcomes may be tangible—like a building—or intangible, such as software or a research initiative. Project management professionals are the conductors who coordinate resources and lead actions toward these goals. Success depends on clear criteria and developing the skills and competencies required to deliver lasting value with excellence and impact.

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Having a multifaceted view of the knowledge domains (such as planning, measurement, stakeholder engagement, development approaches, and life cycle), the project management principles(such as complexity, risk, value, leadership, and change), the methodologies (predictive, agile, and hybrid), the tools (including collaboration platforms and AI-based systems), the methods (such as the Critical Path Method), and best practices (e.g., related to communication, team building, and lessons learned) allows us to understand projects far beyond the primary deliverable.

This broad perspective sharpens our ability to assess the variables that directly affect project execution and short- and long-term outcomes. Equipping oneself with project management knowledge is a strategic advantage when tackling the most diverse challenges.

The project management universe is vast, as are the opportunities for professional engagement. Around the world, many organizations are dedicated to advancing the profession. The Project Management Institute (PMI) (2), based in the United States, stands out among them. PMI offers a wide range of resources for professionals, including publications, articles, communities, training, events, tools (like PMI Infinity, based on artificial intelligence), and certifications for various levels of experience. Some certifications, such as the Project Management Professional – PMP, are more comprehensive, while others are specialized, like the PMI-RMP, which focuses on risk management (3).

PMI is also continuously evolving, regularly updating its resources to help professionals face the complex challenges of an increasingly dynamic world undergoing constant change. I've been following this journey enthusiastically and have contributed actively as a volunteer for many years, witnessing firsthand the transformation and rapid incorporation of new knowledge.

As a complementary read, I recommend my article "Launching Your Project Management Career: Insights and Certification Overview," written in response to the growing interest from professionals looking to enter the field.

If you already work in project management, I invite you to share your 30-second pitch about the profession. Together, we can build a collective reflection that helps raise awareness and appreciation for this fascinating discipline.

To my friends, family, and others interested in knowing more about project management, I hope this article has shed some light on the question that gives it its title — and inspiration! 😉

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Notes:

(1) The full definition of "project" at the PMBOK® Guide – 7th Edition: "Temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result. The temporary nature of projects indicates a beginning and an end to project work or a phase of the project work. Projects can stand alone or be part of a program or portfolio."

 (2) PMI Global: https://www.pmi.org

 (3) PMI Certifications: https://www.pmi.org/certifications

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